If you are a web developer or learning web development, you should constantly improve your skills. Web development can be fun at times, but it is frustrating if you don’t have the right tools and knowledge. One of the best tools to use in web development is CSS. CSS can be useful in positioning various HTML elements on a web page. It can also be used for coloring and web page animation.
While most CSS techniques are simple, a few more complex ones can be helpful if you want to create more specific designs. If you are looking to improve your web development skills, you should try and learn some of these advanced techniques. Not only will they help with creating better web pages, but they can also be used to transform your ideas into reality.
Here are five advanced CSS techniques that will make a world of difference to your web development skills:
1. Masking
Masking is an important advanced function of CSS, which can change the background of the website images. Masking an image often involves making the background a mix between black, color, and transparent. With the masking tool, you can choose which part of an image you want to show and which part you want to leave out. It is valuable for websites as it allows you to shape images or even blend in the background.
When learning masking with CSS, you will learn how to use the ‘mask-image’ function. There are two ways in which you can apply masking to an image. The first method uses gradient masking to select which part of the image you want to show.
The second method is to use image masking. This involves using a background image to mask a specific shape on the original image. It is an advanced technique, but you can integrate it into the website design once you learn this. You’ll also save time as you won’t have to use Photoshop to edit each image before adding it to the website.
2. Responsive CSS grids
Having a responsive website design is essential nowadays. One of the best tools to add to your skill-set is learning how to create responsive grids with CSS. This is one of the latest techniques used in 2021 and can improve the website’s design. The responsive grid makes use of the fraction unit (fr), which can divide open space. You can decide how many columns you want in the grid as each (fr) unit is a column.
Creating responsive CSS grids is quite a difficult task. If you have been given this task as homework, then you might be looking for professional help. If you wonder, “where can I find a professional to do my computer science assignment?” then there’s no need to worry. Many professionals will help you in this regard and even teach you how to create responsive CSS grids.
3. Initial Letter
If you’ve ever read a news blog or other print media, you may have noticed that the first letter of the article occupies a few lines and is larger than the other letters. This is used to grab attention and give a more attractive look to the article. You can do this on a website page by using CSS for the same effect. This is known as the initial letter technique.
The initial letter is an advanced CSS technique that’s pretty easy to master. You will use three functions when doing the initial letter. These include <normal>, <number> and <integer>. Each value has its own function. For example, <normal> can be used when you have not yet applied a scaling effect on the letter, whereas <integer> plots the number of lines that a bigger first litter will use. By combining some or all of these values, you can create the initial letter effect on the website pages.
4. Scroll Snapping
When creating a website, the first thing that you want to ensure is that people look at the critical content. If you are selling a product, you may wish to the ‘buy’ button and product image to be the focus. In other cases, you may want website visitors to see a complete picture. This can be done with an advanced CSS technique known as Scroll snapping.
Scroll snapping allows you to control the scroll distance on the page, which gives you more say in what visitors see on the website. While it may seem complex at first, Scroll snapping is not that difficult, which is why you should try it out next time you are practicing advanced CSS techniques.
5. Background repeat
Background repeat is one of the least used CSS techniques but also the most effective. It can be used to repeat the background along either the horizontal or vertical axis. Not only will this give a unique look to the web page’s background, but it also allows you to create different patterns with a single background. For some developers, a background repeat is a helpful tool, while others rarely use it. It usually depends on the type of website you are designing, but it’s an essential skill to have anyway.
Conclusion
While there are many other helpful CSS techniques that you can practice, these are the most commonly used in 2021. Most of these techniques are relatively simple, although they require an advanced understanding of how CSS functions. Even if you are new to how CSS works, you can still try some of these techniques.
The best thing about web development is that there is room for error when learning. The more you practice your techniques, the better you will get at them, regardless of how advanced they may be. Next time you are bored, simply open up your practice software and try some fantastic CSS techniques. You’ll be surprised at how easy they are to master!